CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada and its World Cup of Hockey management group have named defenceman Jay Bouwmeester (Edmonton/St. Louis, NHL) to Team Canada as a replacement for Duncan Keith (Penticton, B.C./Chicago, NHL), who is unable to participate in next month’s tournament due to injury.
Bouwmeester, 32, was on the 2004 World Cup-winning squad, and has also won gold for Canada at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and the 2003 and 2004 IIHF World Championships. Bouwmeester also played at three IIHF World Junior Championships (2000, 2001, 2002), bringing home two bronze medals and one silver.
“First and foremost, we want to wish Duncan the best in his continued rehabilitation, and welcome Jay to the team,” said Doug Armstrong, general manager for Team Canada. “Our management team and coaching staff felt it was critical to ensure continuity between the number of left- and right-handed defencemen on our roster, and Jay’s experience with what it takes to be successful in these short tournaments can’t be undervalued.”
A three-time Stanley Cup champion, Keith has won Olympic gold for Canada in both 2010 and 2014, and earned silver at the 2008 IIHF World Championship.
Team Canada assembles in Ottawa to begin training camp on Sept. 5.
The World Cup of Hockey, hosted by the NHL and NHLPA, runs Sept. 17 through Oct. 1, exclusively at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto and features players representing over 15 countries. Eight teams – Team Canada, Team Czech Republic, Team Europe, Team Finland, Team North America, Team Russia, Team Sweden, and Team USA – will compete in the championship.
For more information on the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, visit WCH2016.com.
For more information on Canada’s National Men’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook and Twitter, and at Twitter.com/HC_Men.